“Dark-Eyed Cossack Girl”
Leonid Kharitonov – “Dark-Eyed Cossack Girl”
Russian Cossack Folk Song. Music – M. Blanter, Lyrics – I. Selvinsky.
This song was composed especially for Leonid Kharitonov.
The video clip is from the “New Year’s Kidnapping” Musical Movie, 1969.
Attention: This video has English subtitles!
Song Description
This song is about a Cossack Soldier who once met a dark-eyed Cossack girl and asked her to shoe his horse. The girl agreed and asked for a very small price. The man asked her name since he liked her very much. The girl refused to tell her name and answered that the Cossack would hear it right from under his horse’s shoes when he rides it. The Cossack started riding his horse and guessing her name – Masha? Zina? Dasha? Nina?.. No, they were all wrong… KATYA, KATYA, KATERINA – the horseshoes knocked her name…!!! Since those times wherever the Cossack went he always whispered “KATYA, KATYA, KATERINA”… He was thinking that that was an obsession since he already had another girlfriend. But the strange thing was that he could never take that Cossack girl’s name out of his chest as it was a never ending song inside there…
Critical Commentary
Many Russian songs are serious or sad, but Kharitonov is also known for singing comic songs or arias. The composer Matvey Blanter wrote Dark-Eyed Cossack Girl (Russian: Черноглазая казачка) especially for him in 1966. Kharitonov’s definitive performance was recorded in 1969. Again he is celebrating Chaliapin’s legacy as the first modern bass to successfully fuse drama – and humour – with pure musical technique, as in Chaliapin’s performance of Dark Eyes.
Moreover this performance of Kharitonov’s demonstrates the Ensemble’s style, which in the era of A.V. and B.A. Alexandrov encouraged soloists to stay in tune in spite of any vibrato, any emotional acting, or any humour. Therefore, although the song involves laughter, he laughs elegantly in tune. All the while he is making faces and humorous gestures, his vocal tone and pitch remain spot-on. That is the achievement of this kind of performance: while the audience and the other musicians laugh so much at Kharitonov’s clowning, at the same time they are aware of highly disciplined singing, and the performance remains perfectly musical. This performance demonstrates that discipline is fundamental to musical elegance.
Lyrics:
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Черноглазая казачка Я по улице поехал, С той поры хоть шагом еду, Черноглазая казачка |
Once a dark-eyed Cossack girl I rode along the street, And since that time, whether I ride Once a dark-eyed Cossack girl |
Mr. Kharitonov, I saw this song 10 years ago while listening to kalinka and katyusha. The record was not colored then. I was deeply touched by the tone of your voice and the way you use it. Then for years, you have established a throne in my heart. I was truly saddened to learn of your death. You will always be loved. I taught my little girl about you yesterday.
Bay Kharitonov bu şarkıyı bundan 10 yıl önce kalinka ve katyuşayı dinlerken görmüştüm. Ozaman renkli değildi kayıt. Sesinizin tonu ve onu kullanma şekliniz beni derinden etkiledi. Ardından yıllarca gönlümde taht kurdunuz. Sizin vefat haberinizi öğrendiğimde gerçekten üzüldüm. Daima sevileceksiniz. Küçük kızıma dün sizi öğrettim.
I love this song and would love to sing it. Where can i obtain sheet music for paino and voice. Many thanks
A unique artist. We remember you with longing. most sincere love and respect from Turkey.
Hi I love all your folk songs so much! I just want to know where i can find the balalaika sheet so that can play them myself!
I’m Brazilian and I love this site! Same! I love listening to these songs, you have a wonderful voice. This song is my favorite! Thank you for creating this amazing site! I can find wonderful music easily here, thank you.
I am a young man from China. The Cossack girl is my favourite song. I watch your video every day. Your voice and performance almost become a part of my daily life! Thank you, for bringing me such an amazing song which makes me happy all the time.Best wishes for you!
Thank you!
I have listened to many singers in my time but you sir are amazing. I love listening to your voice. I wish I had discovered you sooner. My favourite is the dark eyed cossack girl. I also love to her you sing the Volga Boatmen. I only wish there had never been a cold war. Then the world could have been yours.
Thank you!
Greetings from Israel! Thank you Mr. Kharitonov for your wonderful music. I am of Russian descent myself, as my grandfather was a Russian Jew who lived in Nizhny before migrating to Israel during the Six Day War. He would sing songs like that to us growing up.
ADOREI ESSA MÚSICA!!!!!!!!!!!!É DE UNS POUCOS ANOS ANTES DE EU NASCER, MAS ME PARECE ATUAL, E SEMPRE INCRÍVEL!!!!!!!!!!!!! O MESTRE LEONID, É DEMAIS!!!!!! ESSE É O CARA!!!!!!!!
Comrade Kharitonov,I’m from Malaysia & to me,you are the great soloist that I’d ever seen in this world,I hope I can meet you soon…Spasiba!
Mr. Kharitonov,
I am of Russian and Georgian decent, and both cultures’ music have played a role in my upbringing. My grandfather would sing Kalinka to me and my family when I was young. I learned that and Volga Boatmen on my own. Your voice is truly a God-given talent. It is absolutely beautiful . This song is amazing and I hope to download it soon.
Thank you, Mr. Kharitonov, for sharing your talent with the world.
Thank you Leonid and thank Matvei for this song. I just discovered it in YT looking for Alexandrov’s Ensemble performances. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It is such a warm feeling it brings to the heart this song and your performance. I will share it with family and friends, and particularly with my 3 year old son, so that he knows who you are from early age.
Warm greetings from Barcelona
To me he is one of the best singers of all time. This song is not only sung splendidly but he sings it with an incredible charm. I listen or watch it at least twice every day. It can always make me smile, whatever mood I am in!
Mr Kharitonov, I am a Greek woman. I like very much russian folk music. Ιn a research in YouTube, I found out, a lot of your songs, and Ι was impressed of your voice and your presence. I declare fun of yours. The cossack girl is my favourite song. Your performance in this song was perfect. I’ve already downloaded the mp3, and the video, because Ι enjoy seeing you singing and performing this song. I send you my regards and my wishes for a brilliant and happy future.
Anda
I am not Russian, but Even as a young girl I have always appreciated Russian music. Leonid Kharitonov Is simply great. Thank you Mr Kharitonov for the miracle of your voice!